The War on Privacy - by Jacqueline Klosek (Hardcover)

About the Book

In today's globalized society, the war on terror has negatively affected privacy rights not just in the United States, but everywhere. When privacy rights are curtailed around the world, American efforts to spread freedom and democracy are hindered, and as a consequence, Americans are less secure in the world. Ironically, the erosion of individual privacy rights, here and abroad, has been happening in the name of enhancing national security. This book sheds light on this apparent contradiction, and argues that governments must do more to preserve privacy rights while endeavoring to protect their citizens against future terrorist attacks.

It is easy to forget that prior to 9/11, privacy rights were on the march. Plans were in the works, in the areas of legislation and regulation, to protect personal privacy from both governmental intrusion and corporate penetration. The need for such protections arose from the swift advances in information technology of the 1990s. But the attacks of 9/11, and the responses of governments to this new level of the terrorist threat, put an end to all that. Not only is privacy no longer emphasized in legislation, it is being eroded steadily, raising significant questions about the handling of personal information, surveillance, and other invasions into the private lives of ordinary citizens.

Book Synopsis

In today's globalized society, the war on terror has negatively affected privacy rights not just in the United States, but everywhere. When privacy rights are curtailed around the world, American efforts to spread freedom and democracy are hindered, and as a consequence, Americans are less secure in the world. Ironically, the erosion of individual privacy rights, here and abroad, has been happening in the name of enhancing national security. This book sheds light on this apparent contradiction, and argues that governments must do more to preserve privacy rights while endeavoring to protect their citizens against future terrorist attacks.

It is easy to forget that prior to 9/11, privacy rights were on the march. Plans were in the works, in the areas of legislation and regulation, to protect personal privacy from both governmental intrusion and corporate penetration. The need for such protections arose from the swift advances in information technology of the 1990s. But the attacks of 9/11, and the responses of governments to this new level of the terrorist threat, put an end to all that. Not only is privacy no longer emphasized in legislation, it is being eroded steadily, raising significant questions about the handling of personal information, surveillance, and other invasions into the private lives of ordinary citizens.

Review Quotes

"Klosek is to be commended for attempting to provide an overview that encompasses every region of the world. She highlights common themes while providing more detailed information on two categories of nations: large, powerful states whose stance on issues is always important; and those nations in which something especially notable, either good or bad, has happened to privacy in recent years....This is a welcome and valuable overview of an important topic." --Law & Politics Book Review

"In The War on Privacy, Jacqueline Klosek looks at how notions of privacy have changed not just in the U.S. but also around the globe. Some governments have made genuine efforts to balance civil liberties and security concerns, but the overall trend is chilling." --American Libraries

"Klosek contends, the ongoing global war on terror has led to an ongoing global war on privacy. He details the post-9/11 developments in the world's legal privacy regimes on a regional basis, offering separate chapters on the United States, the Middle East and Africa, the European Union, Canada and Mexico, Latin and South America, and the South Pacific and Asia. He concludes arguing that the erosion of privacy rights worldwide is undermining democratic aspirations." --Reference & Research Book News

About the Author

Jacqueline Klosek, a Certified Information Privacy Professional, is an attorney with Goodwin Procter LLP in New York City, where she practices in the Intellectual Property Transactions and Strategies Practice Area. Her practice focuses on advising clients on cutting-edge issues related to the intersection of law and technology, with a particular focus on data privacy and security. She is the author of three books.